Urban cites a New York-based source who says, “The Mets have already decided to shop Reyes (and perhaps Carlos Beltran and David Wright) and will be looking to stockpile and rebuild with high-level prospects rather than established players anywhere near arbitration or free agency.”

Nevertheless, in a report for ESPN yesterday, Jayson Stark said the Mets would likely seek a top-of-the-line young pitcher in return for Reyes, who the Giants would want to keep beyond this season.

More specifically, on MLB Trade Rumors, Tim Dierkes mentioned RHP Zach Wheeler and LHP Madison Bumgardner as pitching prospects the Giants and Mets could end up discussing, assuming Reyes in on the table.

“The Giants do have the pieces to acquire Reyes, depending on how far they are willing to go,” Dierkes writes. “I don’t think it would take much more than Wheeler. … Building a deal around Jonathan Sanchez would be easier to stomach long-term, but would leave a pretty big hole in the team’s rotation.”

The buzz in baseball this spring has been that Reyes will likely start out seeking a seven-year, $120 million deal, though he’s more likely to be offered a five-year deal around $15 million per season. … In talking to people close to the team, it sounds to me like the Mets payroll will likely be around $120 million next year, or roughly $40 million less than is being budgeted for this year. Regardless, I’ve heard some people mention how Jose fits in to this plan, and how he does not. The point is, I truly believe no decision has been made and, if the trade deadline was tomorrow, regardless of the potential for a playoff chase, I’m not sure if the Mets yet know how they would handle keeping or moving Reyes.

That said, it wouldn’t surprise me to hear they’re preparing for both scenarios.

In March, Joel Sherman of the New York Post predicts Reyes would do well this season, but the Mets will not; and so, while they’ll talk to the Giants and Angels, Sandy Alderson will eventually trade Reyes in July to the Reds for 25-year-old RHP Homer Bailey and SS prospect Zack Cozart.

Buster Olney of ESPN suggested the same thing last month, saying he believes the Mets will end up trading Reyes because he’s eligible to be a free agent at the end of this season. Olney feels the Mets will seek ‘power arms,’ in a deal for Reyes, and says the Giants will be interested.